It must be in the air at the moment to read books about conquerors. Must say something about where I am/where God has me at the moment!!
This one I haven't yet finished but really the points that struck me as a Christian and again like with Genghis Khan of how we could be pulling together as a Body, are nearer the beginning when Julius is more idealistic and before he gets more into conquering for conquering sake.
Julius sees the vision of how Rome should be, a shared republic with everyone having an say and working to their talents, giving to make the best for Rome. He is frustrated with leaders who can only see as far as their own petty politics and wanting to be the best. As I sit here at home trying to decide where to go on this Easter Sunday, and even whether to go, I wonder how many congregation leaders will be thinking of their own groups, their own services, of wanting their stuff to bring in the most people, be the best, or how many are truly thinking and praying about the rest of their town, city, even county. How many leaders want the whole Body to grow or just their part of it? thinking that what they have is the best, the total?
I've just read a great bit on Gnosticm gathered by Fawn Parish which says that Gnosticm is where we the way into heaven is with a password and we have the password, not others. By that even some of the more lively charismatic congregations, who would never call themselves gnostics because they see that as something somber, aesthetic and introspective, actually are because they see their way as the only way. Check out Deeper Still which can be found by emailing Fawn on fawn@reignbridge.com
Julius's main aim, even as he gets more power hungry, is for the glory of Rome to envelope the whole earth. I just feel that as a follower of Jesus I need to be wanting that more and more. Not for people to "get it right", which often means just doing it the way I see as best, but of really wanting Jesus known every where, and so that those who know Him cannot keep quiet about Him and that includes me
